To mark 4/20, a day dedicated to smoking marijuana, we've mapped the world according to marijuana consumption – and the results might surprise you. New data from the United Nations is putting all of our assumptions to shame.

The top nation isn't The Netherlands, famous for its coffee shops, or indeed Portugal, the US or Uruguay, each of which has made strides to decriminalise the drug during modern times. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), that dubious distinction of the biggest marijuana-loving nation goes to Iceland.

Most people would probably assume that the top countries might be: the Netherlands, given Amsterdam’s love for cannabis coffee shops and clubs. Or Jamaica maybe, seeing how the weed plays a huge role in Rastafarian culture. Portugal, perhaps? Their 2001 decriminalization launched a new way that the world treats drug users, they must be high on the list, right? Well, new data from the United Nations is putting all of our assumptions to shame. The latest data suggests that Iceland has the highest percentage of pot smokers per population. Portugal doesn’t even crack the top 30, while the Netherlands and Jamaica come in 20th and 22nd place, respectively. UNODC data suggests that cannabis is used by 18.3 percent of Iceland's population (aged 15-64). The US (16.2 percent) and Nigeria (14.3 percent) had the second and third highest rates of consumption; while the UK came 26th on the list, followed by Ireland.

A number of countries have had a rethink on their cannabis laws in recent years.

1. Iceland - 18.3 percent of the population

2. United States - 16.3%

3. Nigeria - 14.3%

4. Canada - 12.7%

5. Chile - 11.83%

6. France - 11.1%

7. New Zealand - 11%

8. Bermuda - 10.9%

9. Australia - 10.2%

10. Zambia - 9.5%

11. Uruguay - 9.3%

12. Italy - 9.2%

13. Spain - 9.2%

14. Madagascar - 9.1%

15. Czech Republic - 8.9%

16. Israel - 8.88%

17. St Lucia - 8.87%

18. Belize - 8.45%

19. Barbados - 8.3%

20. Netherlands - 8%

What’s remarkable about these top twenty countries is, not one of them has fully legalized marijuana use. Recreational use and cultivation are still largely illegal across each of these countries, not to mention that decriminalization has yet to occur in some broad fashion.Portugal decriminalised all drugs in 2001 and within a decade substance abuse was reported to have halved - though that’s not to say the dip in drug taking was directly down to the policy.Uruguay has adopted a similar approach - it legalised marijuana in 2013 - while California, Massachusetts and Nevada are among the latest US states to vote for its legalisation.

Why Iceland? The theory is that since alcohol was prohibited from 1915 all the way up until 1989, weed became the natural vice of choice for its citizens. However, if you plan on taking a trip to Iceland anytime soon to experience their weed-loving culture, be forewarned.Possessing small amounts or smoking in public results in fines or even jail time for repeat offenders. But there may be hope on the horizon.

The US has been steadily climbing in marijuana consumption for years. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States.”

Given its 2nd place ranking as one of the highest smoking populations per capita, legalization momentum, and cannabis industry “green rush” projections could place the United States at #1 within the next five years.

Which countries consume marijuana the most?

To mark 4/20, a day dedicated to smoking marijuana, we've mapped the world according to marijuana consumption – and the results might surprise you. New data from the United Nations is putting all of our assumptions to shame.

The top nation isn't The Netherlands, famous for its coffee shops, or indeed Portugal, the US or Uruguay, each of which has made strides to decriminalise the drug during modern times. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), that dubious distinction of the biggest marijuana-loving nation goes to Iceland.

Most people would probably assume that the top countries might be: the Netherlands, given Amsterdam’s love for cannabis coffee shops and clubs. Or Jamaica maybe, seeing how the weed plays a huge role in Rastafarian culture. Portugal, perhaps? Their 2001 decriminalization launched a new way that the world treats drug users, they must be high on the list, right? Well, new data from the United Nations is putting all of our assumptions to shame. The latest data suggests that Iceland has the highest percentage of pot smokers per population. Portugal doesn’t even crack the top 30, while the Netherlands and Jamaica come in 20th and 22nd place, respectively. UNODC data suggests that cannabis is used by 18.3 percent of Iceland's population (aged 15-64). The US (16.2 percent) and Nigeria (14.3 percent) had the second and third highest rates of consumption; while the UK came 26th on the list, followed by Ireland.

A number of countries have had a rethink on their cannabis laws in recent years.

1. Iceland - 18.3 percent of the population

2. United States - 16.3%

3. Nigeria - 14.3%

4. Canada - 12.7%

5. Chile - 11.83%

6. France - 11.1%

7. New Zealand - 11%

8. Bermuda - 10.9%

9. Australia - 10.2%

10. Zambia - 9.5%

11. Uruguay - 9.3%

12. Italy - 9.2%

13. Spain - 9.2%

14. Madagascar - 9.1%

15. Czech Republic - 8.9%

16. Israel - 8.88%

17. St Lucia - 8.87%

18. Belize - 8.45%

19. Barbados - 8.3%

20. Netherlands - 8%

What’s remarkable about these top twenty countries is, not one of them has fully legalized marijuana use. Recreational use and cultivation are still largely illegal across each of these countries, not to mention that decriminalization has yet to occur in some broad fashion.Portugal decriminalised all drugs in 2001 and within a decade substance abuse was reported to have halved - though that’s not to say the dip in drug taking was directly down to the policy.Uruguay has adopted a similar approach - it legalised marijuana in 2013 - while California, Massachusetts and Nevada are among the latest US states to vote for its legalisation.

Why Iceland? The theory is that since alcohol was prohibited from 1915 all the way up until 1989, weed became the natural vice of choice for its citizens. However, if you plan on taking a trip to Iceland anytime soon to experience their weed-loving culture, be forewarned.Possessing small amounts or smoking in public results in fines or even jail time for repeat offenders. But there may be hope on the horizon.

The US has been steadily climbing in marijuana consumption for years. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States.”

Given its 2nd place ranking as one of the highest smoking populations per capita, legalization momentum, and cannabis industry “green rush” projections could place the United States at #1 within the next five years.